182 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



had been set, the abdomen having been carefully emptied of 

 its contents, and filled with a slight roll of tissue-paper or 

 cotton-wool. Rapid desiccation appears to be the point in 

 treating all specimens of insects, &c., whose colours are 

 difficult to preserve. — [^Rev.'] O. Pickard-Camhridge ; Blox- 

 worlh Rectory, Blaudford, August 8, 1872. 



Are there naturally Two Broods of Notodonta dictcea? — 

 Do you think that naturally there can be two broods of 

 N. dictsea in the year ? I had some larvae in June, which 

 changed to pupae early this month, and are now coming out 

 as imagos. In your book you say they are full fed in 

 September. — [Miss] E. Bethell ; 54, High Street, Croydon, 

 July 29, 1872. 



[This question was fully discussed in the 'Zoologist' some 

 years back, without attaining any satisfactory solution.] 



Notodonta dictcea at the end of July. — Is it anything out 

 of the common way for Dictaea to be coming out now .? 

 About three weeks ago I received the larvae from Miss 

 Bethell, which turned in a few days, and the moths began to 

 come out yesterday, the 27th July. I see there is another 

 out this morning. I expected them to have been in pupae 

 all the winter. — JV. J. Skelton. 



Dipterous Parasites. — I shall be glad if you will name the 

 enclosed Dipterous fly and pupa-case, which I have found to 

 be parasitic upon Saturnia Carpini ; and also state if at all 

 unusual for Dipterous flies to be parasitic upon Lepidoptera. 

 I found the pupa by cutting open the cocoons of the 

 emperors which had not emerged in due time, and mj'self 

 and a friend have met with several this season. — W. D. 

 Roebuck ; 81 & 82, Briggate, Leeds, July 5, 1872. 



[The flies are Anthorayia Larvarum. Dipterous parasites 

 onLepidopterous larvae are very common.] 



Sphinx Liguslri Feeding on Holly. — On Monday last I 

 had brought to me six of the above larvae feeding on 

 variegated holly. Is not this unusual ? I have found them 

 on privet, lilac, and ash, but never before on holly. — Arthur 

 W. Paul; Wallham Cross, August 14, 1872. 



[I have received no less than five other notes to the same 

 purport this year, all of which have been published, because 

 I think it unusual ; no similar instances having come under 

 my notice during my experience in former years.] 



